Collection of materials documents the early years of the South Coast Botanic Garden and the South Coast Botanic Garden Foundation.

The South Coast Botanic Garden is the first botanic garden in the world to be built on a sanitary landfill. Prior to its landfill use, the Great Lakes Carbon Company mined the 87 acre site for diatomaceous earth. The property was purchased in 1956 by Los Angeles County as one of the County's first sanitary landfills to meet the County's growing landfill needs. At the request of residents headed by Francis Young, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved converting the landfill to a garden in 1960, with plantings beginning in 1961. The South Coast Botanic Garden was recognized by the California Mining Association in 1990 with its first Excellence in Reclamation award for "signifcant achievement in planning, practice and environmental protection."

6 Folders

The collection is open for research use.

Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the Local History Center for access information.